Spindle head



Aprifi 9 193%. J. VERDERBER ET AL. 2,,M39711 S PINDLE HEAD Filed Aug. 15, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS afar/7mm Q W ATTORNEY.

April 112,, J. VERDERBERET AL S F INDLE HEAD 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 15, 1955 I INVENTORS Mm Qrmkria'r I BY Qiffiaiigrm /%MATTORNEY.

J. VERDERBER E1- AL S PINDLE HEAD Filed Aug. 15, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 5 Sheets-sheet 5 INVENTORS 70.5; Z 'rdar'ar B April 12, 1938, J. VERDERBER ET AL SPINDLE HEAD Filed Aug. 15, 1935 iffiaifaiirmn %W4T+ORNEY.

Patented Apr. 12, 1938 UNITED STATES SPINDLE HEAD Joseph Verderber, Cleveland, and Elmer F. Batterman, East Cleveland, Ohio Application August 15, 1935, Serial No. 36,391

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to relative individual lateral adjustment and driving and retaining spindles in adjusted position in spindle heads. I

In the pertaining art, it is often quite useful or advantageous that a number or group or groups of spindles be arranged in one or more straight or in one or more irregularly arranged rows laterally of each other and that each individual spindle be individually relatable to the other spindles. It is also convenient and advantageous in the pertaining art, that groups of spindles operate on work simultaneously to eliminate much handlingof work and it is further found advantageous that such spindles be easily and quickly relatable to each other so that one spindle head can be used on a variety of work and thereby save the expense of a new head for each differing work piece.

The present invention is primarily concerned with such spindle heads as carry such tools as drills, countersinks, etc. wherein the driven spindles that carry the tools are arranged either in one or in more rows of spindles, the axes of :.-which are located either in one plane or in staggered relation and also with lateral locatability of the spindles and retaining thereof in related positions.

The present invention aims to provide a spindle ;head which carries a number of spindles spaced laterally in one or more rows, to provide one main driving means for-all of the spindles and to provide simultaneous driving for all of the spindles in any lateral layout thereof and to provide exchangeable covers for the head each with a specific lateral spindle layout fixed therein.

Objects of the present invention are:

A spindle head which is simple and easy and economical of structure and eflicient in opera- ;.-tion and in lateral relation of spindles; and

wherein a plurality of spindles are laterally spaced in one or more rows; wherein the axes of the spindles may be alined or staggered; and wherein each spindle is locatable laterally rela- ;tive to the other spindles in the head.

A spindle head containing means for laterally relating the members of the spindle driving means individually and having the operating ends of the spindle relating means easily available on the outside of the spindle head.

' A spindle head with one main driving means which drives all of the spindles simultaneously and a driving connection for each of the spindles drivingly connected with an in permanent driv- ;;ing engagement with the main driving means so that any relationship of the spindles retains the driving connection in permanent engagement with the main driving means.

A clamping means whereby the spindles can be held in relative positions and the operating end of the clamping means is'easily available on the outside of the head.

A multiple spindle head with a laterally adjustable bracket for each spindle and a part of the driving connection for the spindle carried by the bracket and in permanent driving connection for the spindles with the main driving means for the spindles in the cover.

A simple, economically constructed and lubricant retaining spindle head wherein any of the spindle driving connections may be easily and conveniently taken out when no spindle is to be driven thereby or may be left in the head for safe keeping.

A simple, economically constructed spindle head having an open ended casing and an exchangeable cover for the open end and having the spindles permanently mounted therein.

A simple, economically constructed spindle head wherein a plurality of covers are easily and conveniently attachable and removable individually and successively and each has a specific lateral layout of spindles therein.

A simple, economically constructed spindle head wherein a plurality of laterally difierently spaced spindles are mounted on an attachable part of the head and the driving connection for each spindle is easily engaged with the driving means for the head.

Other objects will be pointed out in this specification during the description of the head shown in the accompanying drawings, or will suggest themselves, or become apparent or obvious upon an inspection of the accompanying drawings and this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the views, is shown one type of multiple spindle heads and possible modifications thereof for illustration purposes but not for limitation purposes:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a spindle head embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1 and shows an arrangement of four spindles, the adjusting means, the driving connections and the main driving means.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the lower part of a spindle head and shows a modification of the clamping means for the brackets.

Fig. 4 is a modification showing a separate main driving gear axially slidable on the main driving shaft. 7

Fig. 5 is an end View of the lower end of a spindle head showing endwise the relationship of the bracket adjusting screws and, in dotted lines, the gib moving screw.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental transverse section taken on the line 56 of Fig. 3.

Fig. '7 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 1 but shows a removable head on each end of the casing and a more extensible adjusting means for the connecting mechanism in the casing and also shows a clutch means in the connection.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section of the clutch in the connecting mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken on line 99 of Fig. '7 and shows a worm and wheel drive means and also the intermediate gear connecting one of the gears of the connection and one a of the driving gears on one of the driven spindles.

Fig. 10 is a transverse section taken on line Iii-i of Fig. '7 and shows, on the left hand side, one of the ears having the axis of the interme diate gear supporting stud in the same plane as the axis of the stub-shaft and of the driven spindle and, on the opposite side, two ears each at a different angle from that plane.

Referring now specifically to structure shown in the drawings:

The base or casing H3 is hollow and may be made of any suitable material and form and be supported in any suitable manner, is rectangular in cross-section, is open either at one or at both ends, and has the guide-ways H and [2 respectively in the longer sides thereof, The Walls l3 and M of the guide-ways H and I2 are beveled or angular with the longitudinal axis of the spindle head as shown.

The brackets 55 and I6 are slidable in the guide-way H and the brackets I? and i8 are slidable in the guide-way i2. Each bracket has the bevel or angular faces 99 and 25 on the respective ends thereof; the angle of the faces i9 being identical with the angle of the walls l3 and the angularity of the faces2i may be and preferably is the same as that of the faces 9 for ease and economy of production.

The cover 2! closes the open end of the base, is held thereon by the screws 22, is located thereon by the dowel pin 23, and has the gib abutment shoulders 23 and 24 spaced inwardly of the inner face of the corresponding longer walls of the base. The cover2l is exchangeable on the casing. Any change of driven spindle layout, occasioned by different layouts of different work pieces, must have an individual cover with the driven spindles located therein to suit the work to be done.

The gib 25 (Fig. 1) abuts the shoulder 23 and slidably rests on the cover 2! and has the bevel or angular face 25 identical with and for contact on the bevel or angular face 2!) of the brackets l and I6. The end'of the gib 25 has the extending ear 2'i and the clamping screw 28 tapped thereinto. The screw 28 is journaled in one of the shorter or end walls of the base and has the abutment collars 29 and 39 on the corresponding sides of the end wall of the corresponding end wall to prevent longitudinal or axial movement of the screw 28. The gib 36 is of similar structure and location and abuts the shoulder 24 and engages the bevel or angular face 20 on the brackets I! and I 8 for the same purpose as thedescribed gib 25. The screw 32 is threaded into the ear 33 of the gib 3| and is otherwise a duplicate of the gib 25.

The bevel faces 2!! of the brackets are longitudinally tapered in this instance throughout their lengths as is seen in dotted lines in Fig. 1 although the shoulders 23 and 24 may be tapered longitudinally instead of the faces 20. The object to be attained by the gib is to clamp the brackets to the base and to the cover and to release the same therefrom. This gib structure and mounting permits of all brackets on one side of the longitudinal axis of the head being simultaneously clamped to the base in any position which a layout of a cover and tool spindles may demand.

When this simultaneous clamping and releasing is not desired and it is desired that each bracket be clamped into position individually, the long tapered gibs are omitted and are substituted by shorter gibs 48, one for each bracket as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6. In this structure, neither the gibs nor the faces on the brackets nor'on the base need be longitudinally tapered and the wedging or clamping and releasing is effected by the screws Ml tapped into the cover and endwise abutting the corresponding gib 40 so that manipulation of each individual screw moves the corresponding gib and thereby clamps or releases only the corresponding bracket. This structure is advantageous when only one spindle is to be laterally adjusted and eliminates danger of affecting the adjustment of the other spindles.

Each'spindle 4!, 42, 43, and 44, shown in this instance although more or less than the four shown can be used, is journaled in and held against axial movement in a sleeve 45 which has the head 46 thereon to prevent upward or axial movement of the sleeve in the cover. The upper end of each spindle extends above the top of the sleeve and has gear teeth 41- cut thereon or a toothed member fastened thereon to rotate therewith as a part of the driving connection for the spindle. The nut 48 is threaded onto the upper end of the spindle to retain the same vertically. The lower end of each spindle may have the socket 49 therein to receive shanks of such tools as drills, milling cutters, counterbores or other tools or mechanisms which have a shank thereon. Instead of the socket shown, the lower end of the spindle may have a chuck or any other mechanism thereon to engage a mechanism which is to be rotated by the spindle.

The cover 2| has mounted therein the spindle carrying sleeves 45 of a definite layout, either a straight row of laterally spaced driven spindles, or twostraight rows, or either one or both rows may have the spindles laterally staggered according to a desired layout of spindles within the capacity of the device. A new cover is to be made for each particular spindle layout and secured to the open end of the base individually and successively of other covers. The dowel pin 23 is to relate each cover in proper position on the base. Each cover has the sleeve retaining screws 50 tapped thereinto; the points of the screws being conical and countersunk into the shell of the corresponding sleeve.

Each bracket has journaled therein a spindle or stub shaft 5!, the lower end of which is conical to assist in the assembling of the cover 2| on the base; the journals being effected in the arms 52 and 53 of each bracket. The lower end. of each stub shaft is journaled in the cover. Each sleeve 54 is, preferably, journaled on the corresponding stub shaft by means of the bushings 55 as shown, extends between the arms 52 and 53, and has the gear teeth 55 on the upper end thereof and the gear teeth 51 on the lower end thereof and meshing into the teeth M on the corresponding spindles. The main driving shaft 58 extends axially through the base and has the ends thereof journaled in the shorter walls of the base. The pulley 59 is on the extreme end of the shaft 58 to rotate the same by means of the belt 55 thereover.

The driving sleeve 6! is carried by the driving shaft and extends between the bearings for the shaft. The keys 52 are sunk into the shaft 58 and into the bore of the driving sleeve so that the pulley 59, when rotated, rotates the shaft 58 and the driving sleeve thereon. The peripheral surface of the driving sleeve has gear teeth thereon meshing permanently into the teeth of the gears 55 on each of the sleeves 54.

It is preferred, although not absolutely necessary that all of the teeth mentioned are of a formation usually known as spiral gears. When, for any reason, the spiral gear teeth formation is not desired, plain bevel or worm gearingsmay be used. When a speed reduction ratio is desired, the teeth on the driving sleeve may be formed as a thread and the teeth on the gearing modified accordingly in the nature of the well known worm and gear construction.

The gibs 59 each has the upstanding ears 63 and 54 on the corresponding ends thereof and engaging the ends of the corresponding brackets to hold the same relative thereto and hold the same thereon when the bracket is moved. Other means such as screws may be used for this holding.

The bracket adjusting screws 55, 55, 51, and 58' are each journaled in the other one of the shorter walls although the same could be journaled in the same wall of the gib moving screws 32 since the spacing of the axes thereof are far enough apart so that neither one will interfere with the operation of the other.

The bracket adjusting screw 55 is threaded into the bracket it but passes through and clears the bracket l5 so that rotation of the screw 65 moves only the bracket I6. The bracket adjusting screw 66 is threaded into the bracket l5 but passes through and clears the bracket l6 so that rotation of the screw 65 moves only the bracket 15. The bracket adjusting screw 58 is threaded into the carriage H but passes through and clears the bracket 58 so that rotation of the screw 68 moves only the bracket II. The bracket adjusting screw 517 is threaded into the bracket l8 but passes through and clears the bracket I? so that rotation of the screw 5'! moves only the bracket I8.

Each of the bracket adjusting screws is held against axial movement by the collars 69 and 10.

It is not absolutely necessary that the bracket adjusting screws are used since the brackets can be moved in the guideways manually.

In place of the above described driving sleeve 6| extending between two walls of the casing, shorter driving sleeves H can be used to move longitudinally of the driving shaft 58. Each of the brackets has the extending ears 12 and 13 engaging the respective ends of the driving sleeves H so that moving of any of the brackets automatically moves the sleeves H therein along the shaft 58.

In the structure so far described, the axis of the driven member 45 must be at such distance from the axis of the sub-shafts 5| that the gears 41 and 5'! will mesh since the stub shafts are positionally fixed and the gear 41 can be swiveled only about the axis of the sub-shafts. This, together with the adjustability of the brackets provides a good adjusting means for driving connection within the casing for usual purposes.

When a more precise or more extended adjustability of the connecting mechanism in the casing is desired, it is preferred that a structure be used as is illustratively shown in Figs. 7 to 10.

Referring now specifically to Figs. 7 to 10:

In this instance, the base or casing i is shown as being open at each end.

The cover 2| is similar to the cover above described except that the gibs of Fig. 1 are omitted and the bevelor angular faces 20 are provided directly on the cover although the gibs 25 and 3| of Fig. 1 can be used here also and the depressions 14 are provided in the inside of the cover.

The brackets are of a structure similar to the structure above described. The bracket adjusting screws of Fig. 2 are not shown in this structure'since they are not an absolute necessity and may be omitted in the above described structure since each of the brackets can be adjustably moved manually.

Each of the brackets here shown also has the sub-shafts 55 l extending through the ears or arms thereof. In this instance, however, the subshafts are held against rotation by the set screws '55 although any other rotation preventing means may be used. Both ends of the sub-shafts here have, pointed ends to assist in the assembly of the device and the ends of the sub-shafts are engageable in both of the covers.

Each of the brackets here shown also has the individually movable ear 15 having the boss H on one end thereof and the pin 78 driven thereinto and the intermediate gear l rotatable on the pin and resting on the end face of the ear. The one end of each ear extends to and abuts the bottom of the bracket arm. Each sleeve 85 (Fig. 7) extends through the corresponding bracket arm, has a taper part to fit to the taper bore in the arm and is slitted, preferably as shown in Fig. 10, so that this taper part can be contracted and expanded, extends through and fits to the bore in the other end of the corresponding ear l6 and has the threaded end 8!. The taper part of each sleeve 85 is split axially, three slits in this instance as seen in Fig. 10.

Each nut 82 is threaded onto the threaded end of the corresponding sleeve 80 to hold the earagainst the bottom of the arm on the bracket and, by axial movement of the sleeve due to tightening of the nut, contracts the sleeve onto the sub-shaft 5H and retains the ear concentrically on the axis of the sub-shaft when the nut 82 is tightened. This clamping means. usually is sufficient to prevent rotation of the shaft 5H so that the set screw 15 can be omitted. Loosening of the nut 82 permits the ear 16 to swivel about the axis of the shaft 5 and swing the pin [8 to swivel in a path shown. by the line 83 in Fig. 10. This swivelling permits the intermediate gear 18 to establish driving connection between the gears 4! and 5'! for adjustment of the brackets relative to the driven spindles.

The cover 2! I is removable on the other or top open end of the casing and holds the bevel face of the gib 84 against the bevel face of the brackets.

Tightening of the gibs may be effected in a manner above described. In structures such as Figs. 1 and 10, the gib tightening means can be omitted and clamping or locking of the bracket can be effected by the clamping of the covers onto the casing provided the parts are machined and fitted accurately so that this clamping will be effected when the covers abut the casing and prevent leakage of lubricant therethrough.

The internally toothed sleeve 85 isslidable axially over the externally toothed end of the Worm Wheel 85 and over the externally toothed end of the gear 8?, is shorter than the space between the diametrically larger parts of the worm wheel and the gear 8! and is slidable axially on these toothed parts so that the gear and Worm wheel can be rotated individually to facilitate adjustment of the connecting mechanism in the casing when the sleeve 85 is moved into its uppermost position and locks the worm wheel to the gear for driving when in its lowermost position as. seen in Fig. 7. r V

In the illustration shown in Figs. 7 to 10, the sleeve 38 is mounted on the shaft 58 similarly as above described but the outer surface thereof has an Acme thread thereon in place of the gear teeth above described and the worm wheel has corresponding teeth meshing permanently into the threads.

In both of the illustrations shown, each of the exchangeable covers on the bottom of the casing has a special lateral layout of driven spindles and the connecting mechanism in the casing is adjustable to establish a driving connection from the main driving means to the driving means on the driven spindles.

When a new cover 2! is being put onto the casing of Fig. 1, it is preferred that a template be made to locate the brackets by means. of the subshafts 5i and then adjust the connecting gearing in the casing to at least approximate locations thereof. Upon and during the application of the cover M, the pointed ends of the subshafts 5! will locate the brackets in correct location and, since the bearing holes for the subshafts in the cover 25 are correctly spaced from the axes of the driven spindles therein and the connection gearings are all mounted on the brackets and the ends of the sub-shafts are pointed, the brackets are correctly located for justed position.

driving of the driven spindles and are then locked when a locking means is provided.

In the illustration of Fig. 7, the adjustment may be effected as described above. However, it is preferred that the cover 2| with the driven spindles therein may first be held in any suitable manner and the casing put thereon temporarily. The cover 2H is removed to have access to the interior of the casing. This eliminates the necessity of the template and affords an easy and convenient means of adjusting the driving mechanism therein from the open top of the casing and in direct relation to the gears on the driven spindles.

Rotation of the shaft 58 rotates all of the gears within the casing and the driven spindles on any exchangeable cover 2!. The cover 2 is used with any cover 2!.

We claim:

In a multiple spindle drill head a box like cas ing comprising integral top, end and side walls, said side walls providing finished guideways; a plurality of brackets fitting said guideways; a driving shaft extending longitudinally of the casing parallel with and midway between said side walls; an elongated spiral gear keyed on the shaft and extending from end to end of said casing; a stub shaft vertically mounted in each bracket; a gear member journaled on each stub shaft comprising an upper gear meshed with said spiral gear and a lower gear integral therewith; a plurality of screws extending longitudinally of the casing each separately threaded into a bracket whereby the brackets may be separately adjusted on said guideways, a cover plate adapted to be secured in predetermined position on the lower face of said casing; a plurality of spindles journalled on predetermined axes in said cover plate; a driven gear upon the inner end of each spindle and adapted to mesh with one of said lower gears when the brackets have been previously properly located in said guideways, said cover plate having openings to fit the lower ends of said stub shafts to lock the said spindle gears and lower gears in mesh and means carried by the cover plate, engageable with the brackets and co-operating with the guideways to clamp the brackets in ad- JOSEPI-I VERDERBER. ELMER F. BATTERMAN. 

